The Global Market

History of Global Market at Fellowship Congregational Church

Before the idea of the Global Market was born, a small group of members concerned about economic justice reacted to the first “God Is Still Speaking” T-shirts. The shirts had been printed on Hanes shirts which the group knew used “sweat shop labor.” They phoned and wrote letters to the National Office to discuss their concerns about the T-shirts. After much discussion locally and nationally, we were able to buy T-shirts from fair wage sources. Many in the Congregation had not heard of fair trade, and a dialog sermon between a member of the fledging group and a member for Awareness was presented. This group was the beginning of the Economic Justice Committee.
At the same time, two other similar events were happening. Shannon Howard was developing a mission in Nicaragua. She was returning to the USA with handicrafts that had been made there and purchased at a fair price for sale here. This developed into Esperanza Èn Acción
The second inspiration for the Global Market was a result of members of our Church going on the Community of Hope’s mission trips to Nicaragua. They were struck by the meager life of the people there. Besides the mission trips, they became aware that if the people could get a fair wage for their work, their living standard would be much improved.
One of the returning members, Debra Salazar, was awed by and dedicated to help Nicaraguans she met. As a result she made arrangements to sell fair trade coffee in our Narthex every Sunday.
One zealot, me, was bothered by the selling of things in the Narthex. Both Debra and I were on the Board of Outreach. When Debra made her proposal, I objected. Not because I was against the selling of fair trade coffee but because I was against the exchange of money in our sanctuary. After some discussion, Karen Spradlin mentioned the idea of a church store.
My father always told me that the person who sees a problem should be the one to help find a solution. Thus we began working with the Board of Outreach and Cabinet to create a place that would sell Debra’s coffee, Shannon’s Esperanza, and Awareness items. The Board of Christian Education made a wonderful offer. After the renovation of the Education and Administration Building was completed, one of the classrooms they didn’t need at the time was offered for the church store. It was approved by Trustees and Cabinet. The Board of Outreach appoints the chair of the Economic Justice Committee which oversees the church store. Nancy Eggen is the heart and soul of the Global Market and chairs the Economic Justice committee.
The Congregation then went through a process of selecting a name for the church store. This was intended to help the church feel ownership of the store. The store was named the Global Market and opened August 31, 2003 with a sale of over $240. The total sales over $71,000. We are thankful to the members of the Congregation for their continued support.
Rich Curby

An Accessibility Survey

Accessibility Survey
INTERFAITH DISABILITY AWARENESS TASK FORCE

This survey is a tool to help congregations assess how accessible they are. All items are important and are scored equally using the philosophy that there are different barriers to different disabilities. A person who is blind can negotiate stairs, and a person who uses a wheelchair may not have problems reading the bulletin.
The largest barrier to persons with disabilities costs nothing to remove. It is the attitude of those who believe people that have or will get disabilities are others and not ourselves. Many of us already have poor vision. Many of us will lose some hearing. Some of us have hidden disabilities like diabetes, eating disorders, chronic pain, mental problems, etc. Over half of the items listed below cost little or no money. Please take some time to think and plan for making our buildings and services more welcoming to all people.

FOR PERSONS WITH PROBLEMS IN HEARING, SEEING, MOBILITY, OR OTHER DIFFICULTIES, MY CONGREGATION HAS:
Entrances
___ A well-marked “drop-off” area
___ Convenient, adequate spaces for reserved parking; close to accessible entrances
___ Power assist door
___ Percentage of doors in building with easy open levers instead of knobs
___ Long handle on outside exit doors
___ Accessible classroom for each age group
___ Ramp(s) permanent or temporary
___ Access to Sanctuary for all disabilities
___ Elevator(s)
___ Signage, e.g., indicating alternate access if main entrance has steps, etc.
___ Brightly colored, textured strips marking tops of steps

Worship
___ Worship area(s) with available space for wheelchair users, etc. encouraging
participation in leading Worship (flat area, ramp, etc.)
___ Choir location that allows persons with accessibility issues to participate
___ Sign language interpreter
___ Hearing assistive devices available
___ Large print bulletins and music easily available (Task Force can help with this)
___ Large print school materials available
___ Adequate lighting for interpreter and for people with visual disabilities
___ Places for wheelchair users other than at the very front or very back
___ Sound system that meets needs of those with high-frequency hearing loss
___ Persons with disabilities included in Worship and teaching

General access
___ Office desk or table raised for wheelchair users
___ Paper cup dispenser near water fountains
___ Fire alarm system light and sound cued
___ Literature available to help people become aware of the needs and frustrations of
those persons with invisible disabilities, such as, chronic pain, diabetes, epilepsy
___ Library or shelf space section of resources on disabilities concerns
___ Accessible restroom(s) (stalls, mirrors, grab bars, faucets, soap, towels, etc.)
___ Assistance with transportation for people with diverse disabilities
___ Marketing that informs community of church accessibility, e.g., Marquee,
newsletter, signs
___ Memorial gifts for accessibility projects encouraged
___ Information available to educate about environmental illness, including physical
reactions to perfumes, colognes, after-shaves, etc.
___ Literature or persons available to educate about the nonarchitectural barriers to
inclusiveness (attitudes)

Welcoming efforts and Program Initiatives
___ Bulletin board space for disability concerns
___ Participation in Meals-on-Wheels or other feeding programs for people in need
___ Facilities shared with organizations that serve persons with disabilities
___ Program ministering to persons in nursing homes (more than just Pastor)
___ Children involved in nursing home visits
___ “Accessibility issues” used instead of “handicap,” person-first language, etc.
___ Access Sunday Day or Celebration Event(s), e.g., awareness worship services and
training session(s). The second weekend in October is suggested.
___ Care group assistance with diverse services—transportation, visitation, support
groups, etc.
___ Inclusionary child care & youth education welcoming young people with
disabilities
___ Food allergies and special diets respected at church meals
___ Respite Care available for caregivers in need.
___ Part-time nurse on staff for one-on-one visits on grounds and in homes
___ Care groups trained by nurse.
___ American Sign Language class
___ Ushers trained in special care needed by some worship attendees

Free copies are available by emailing curby1241@cs.com with subject Accessibilty Survey.

Transcript: translated from ASL @ Fellowship Congregational Church

This ASL stewardhip talk was given by Rich to the congregation at Fellowship Congregational Church on Sunday, November 2, 2008:


Show and tell. There are some pictures of me “before and after” on the table in the Narthex. Please look at them after the service.
I THANK God for everyday I draw a breath. I thank GOD for everyday I draw a breath. Thirty years ago, before my fortieth birthday a doctor found a tumor about the size of a golf ball just below my right eye and in line with my ear. I had four surgeries to remove it. After one surgery which took 23 hours, I was in I.C.U for one month and the hospital for seven months. To date I have been in the hospital over 500 days. That is one year plus in the hospital. Many people thought I could die. But only the good die young. I am mean. I thank God for EVERDAY I draw a breath
When my work was suspended, our Pastor gave me a check for $1,000. I was blown away! It was hard to accept the money from friends, people I considered family. But I have learned one way to show love is to accept help. I thank God for everyday I DRAW a breath.
I taught at Edison High School for fourteen years. My first surgery occurred with one quarter of the school year left. My third surgery occurred with one half of the school year left. I had some sick leave saved but not nearly enough. Many, many teachers gave me some of their sick leave and I was paid for two full years. I am blessed with many friends. Most I do not know. I THANK God for everyday I draw a breath.
I have received so much love and support over the years. I want to give back. Some say you should give 5% to the church and 5% to the needy and home less. It is interesting to note, if every member gave 5% to the church, then the church would have enough money. But in the real world every member does not give 5%. So, some must give more. I am able to give over 10% and three hours a week outside church time. I know some who volunteer more time. I am very grateful. I thank God for everyday I draw a BREATH.
You don’t have to become sick to be grateful. “Joke.” You can be grateful to God because you are healthy. And for many friends you don’t know. We all are grateful to God. If you wish, please sign with me. I thank God for everyday I draw a breath. Thanks, Praise God.
Rich Curby

Handy Cap

Handy Cap

Our words affect our thoughts,
Our thoughts affect our beliefs,
Our beliefs affect our feelings,
Our feelings affect our behavior,
and
Our behavior affects the world.
Shirley Devol VanLieu, Ph.D.

Several good, considerate people recently have used the word “handicap”
to refer to persons with disabilities. When I hear that word and it is not used referring to handicapping golf or horse races, I think of the way the word was used historically. People in the disability community were thought not to be able to provide for themselves. They had a “handy cap” to ask for alms. But they CAN be productive, if there are no barriers unthinkingly placed before them.
Stephen Hawking is a quadriplegic. While he can’t walk, talk or write, he may be one of the greatest astrophysicists in the world today. Is he handicapped? Well it depends on what he wants to do, doesn’t it? What if he wanted to create a new way to think about the theory of relativity? No! In fact he is one of the few capable of that effort.
A short, able-bodied person wants to play with the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team. Are they handicapped? Yes! A very tall person wants to be a
gymnast. Are they handicapped? Yes, although not for any lack of strength and agility. It is their environment for what they want to do that handicaps them.
Handicap is not a description of a person. It describes the environment. Have you ever seen a wheelchair basketball game? You would be amazed at the skill of the players!
I wish we could rethink the phrase “handicap parking”. It makes me want to look to see if they parked oddly because they are chronically bad drivers. Why not use “Reserved” and the universal disability symbol of the person using a wheelchair?
I believe the use of “handicap” by government leads many to feel it is correctly stated. But the government thinks capital punishment and marriage only between a man and a woman are right. The government always lags the thinking of the people. Now women have the right to vote, and we no longer have slaves. The government at one time thought differently.
June Kailes wrote an excellent article when she was Executive Director of the Independent Living Center in Los Angeles. A wheelchair user, she suggests we should refer to the person first. That is what is important. We don’t refer a person who broke a leg as a “broken legged person.”
Some blacks prefer being called African-Americans. Their heritage is what
is important not their appearance. Indians didn’t choose that name for themselves. Obviously, Indian is a misnomer; these people aren’t from India. Most choose to be referred to as Native Americans. The correct heritage is important. To say again, the part of a person you want to draw attention to should come first — the person, not the disability.
On a similar note, I have yet to meet a person who uses a wheelchair that sleeps in it at night. But I hear on T.V. all the time “she was confined to a wheelchair” or “he was wheelchair bound.” (You mean he was tied to it?) I know people who wear contacts all night when they sleep. Are they confined by them? No, it is simply easier than fumbling for their glasses in the morning.
In addition, while the word ‘victim’ is appropriate to use immediately after a diagnosis or injury, it is inappropriate to use for an ongoing situation. A person is not a victim of Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy or a stroke for a lifetime. Instead we should say, “He had polio.”

“Language Is More Than a Trivial Concern”, June Isaacson Kailes, 11/1990

One Minute You're Healthy......

One minute you’re healthy, and then

Twenty-six years ago, I thought I was healthier than most of you reading this article. I had never experienced as serious illness, disease or injury, and having my tonsils out was the worst that had happened to me. For six years, I rode a bicycle everywhere, including to a part-time job and the high school where I taught fulltime. I rode at least 100 miles a week and was seldom off because of illness. Sounds pretty healthy, doesn’t it?
Then, when I was 37, a benign tumor was discovered in my head.

Later, more tumors were found, and as a result, I had four cranial surgeries and over a dozen other surgeries. At one point, my family, friends, and doctors thought I would not live more than a few weeks. For the next six years, I took “vacations” in the hospital almost annually and now am on oxygen 24 hours a day. To date I have spent 534 days in the hospital. As a result of the surgeries, I have lost the hearing in my right ear, the sight in my right eye, and my voice. I can no longer eat or drink except through a hole in my side. My wife will attest - the only thing I take by mouth is kisses.

After my recovery, I kept asking what God wanted me to do with the rest of my life. I now believe God wants me to be a drummer to call attention to the needs of persons with disabilities.

All of God’s children are precious. Just because you are not disabled or do not see many persons with disabilities around, you who welcome God’s children still need to provide for those with special needs. If you used a wheelchair but your church, mosque or synagogue’s parking lot had curbs and the bathrooms inside were non-accessible, would you feel truly welcome there?

In today’s world, more and more people are surviving illnesses and injuries that would have caused death in the past. They live, but they have disabilities. Some disabilities come with age; everyone faces those. Disabling accidents happen even on our city streets, and one could happen to any of us on the way home from services next weekend. Isn’t it wise that we prepare for a world with growing number of persons with disabilities? Although you may now feel as healthy as I did 30 years ago, things can change very quickly.

Rich Curby

Thoughts

It seems to me the poem about the blind men and the elephant is as allegory for many situations where one person believes their view is so right, no other views are valid. Situations like: the world will come to an end next month; you need to convert to my religion; our political party is always right and yours is always wrong; our nation is the only fair one, and etc.
I try to realize that even the religions and nations that seem to be doing the most harm have a view of a piece of God that is valid. The problem arises when people seek to enforce their view and make all others live as they do.
The wise thing it seems to me, is to try to see the view of others and accept their right to behave as they do as long as they give me the same right.
It is not my responsibility to convert others. If it is and if I am wrong (I don’t have all knowledge), am I responsible for them living in Hell. I will let God convert people. I will try to live in a way, so if people like what I have, they will try it, too.

The Blind Men and the Elephant

The Blind Men and the Elephant

It was six men of Indostan
To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation
Might satisfy his mind.

The First approached the Elephant,
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side,
At once began to bawl:
“God bless me! But the Elephant
Is very like a wall!”

The Second, feeling of the tusk,
Cried, “Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me “tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear!”

The Third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk with in his hands,
Thus boldly up and spake:
“I see,” quoth he,”the Elephant
Is very like a snake!”

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
“What most the wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain,” quoth he;
“’Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!”

The Fifth who chanced to touch the ear;
Said: “E’en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!”

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
“I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant
Is very like a rope!”

And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong.
Though each was partly right
And all were in the wrong!


John Godfrey Saxe
American Poet 1816-1887

The Parable of the Geese

The Parable of the Geese

(Usually told by the Pastor during the last meeting of the New Members’ Class on the day of their joining the church)

Geese fly in a “V” formation so they can fly farther before they have to stop and rest. By drafting off the one ahead of them, these birds fly in air that is already moving in the direction they want to go. As a fellowship of like believers, we as a congregation try to grow in the same direction with the same goal in mind.
The leader of the “V” has the hardest time. He or she is facing the new air alone. However, from time to time the leader will fall back and take a place in one of the wings of the “V”. A fresh leader will take the head. Likewise our church elects new leaders annually for strength and new vision.
If a goose is injured or becomes ill and has to drop down to the ground, another one will go down with it. This goose will stay with the injured goose until it dies or is well enough to fly and rejoin the gaggle. Besides members becoming friends with new members, the Board of Deacons use the Ritual of Fellowship to become aware we haven’t seen someone in some time. Attendance is not a requirement of membership, but we are contacted to see, if there is a problem with which we can help.
The geese honk incessantly, encouraging each other to keep trying to go a little farther and reminding themselves that they are all together. We are always trying to recognize those that have received honors or made special achievements. We recognize those that are in the hospital, ill, or bereaved, so, we can support each other.
Geese are pretty smart.

The Third Operation

Diary of Cranial Tumors, a Success Story
Third operation
My wife, of 18 years, was sitting on my bed. We were holding hands and waiting for the
orderly to come and take me to the operating room for my third cranial surgery. I had had my pre-op shot and was pretty relaxed and calm. I had done this twice before and was back at work in weeks each time. I thought, “This was not a going to be a big deal.”
I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was going to be! Soon my life would change
radically. Very little would stay the same. My goals, what I could do and couldn’t do, who I
lived with and even how I ate was going to be different. Nothing at all would be like it had been.
The orderly come and help me move on to the gurney. My wife and I tell each other we loved the other, kiss and I was off on a trip beyond my imagination.
Operating rooms are so… bright. Hospital gown and a sheet is all I had on. With all the
modesty I could manage I scoot myself from the gurney to the operating table. Which is cold and hard. There is no place to hide. But it doesn’t seem there is any reason to hide. No one seems to notice I am there. People are coming and going in and out and all over the room, all kinds of activity. I have the feeling I am here to watch some event, not the reason for it all.
Dr. Jones, the anesthesiologist, says, “Hi.” I had met him the day before. He had told me what he planned to do and asked, if I had any questions. Nothing different was happening, same old, same old.
Then I am surprised to see Dr. Tom Dodson. He was on the team that did my very first surgery. He has his camera and is going to take some pictures. I am glad he is there. He can point out the “signposts” from the previous operation. Then Dr. Frank Letcher and his assistant, Jennie Edwards, M.D., come in, say, “Hi. How are you feeling?” and we were ready to go. Very soon I’m out.
The surgery lasted 22 hours. I can’t imagine one person standing for 22 hours. There was a team of doctors, nurses and aides. And WHAT a team!
What about those waiting in the Waiting Room? My family, Rev. Bennett, friends and friends from church came and went. I am so thankful for all of these and their prayers. I’m thankful for the prayers of many who could not come because they had lives of their own.
One of the most difficult lessons I had to learn was to accept the help of others and to ask when you needed something important. Rev. Bennett had come to our home before the first operation many years ago. At that time I had been going to Fellowship Congregational Church 19 years. These people had known me since I was in college. They had seen me grow up, marry, and have children.
They were there when the tornado hit our house. It had been announced during “Announcements and Concerns” before the Worship Service started that we had damage because of the tornado the evening before. After the service they were at our home to help clean up and make minor repairs, so no more damage would be done to the house until the real work could be started.
Now he was in our home with a check for $1,000 and we are not a rich church. I know that many gave a little. One of my main goals has been to give back by giving my talents in every way I can think of as was given to me and my family.
All I remember of 8 months is bits and pieces. I missed my 41st birthday and Christmas. I checked in December 7, 1982 and out July 4, 1983. My oldest sister, Pattie, gave me a T-shirt that says “Independence Day” and the date. My birthday is December 23, 1941.
I remember once being awake in recovery and three or four times in ICU. There are times in “step down” I remember conversations and in my regular room. I remember being told I was going to the Cath Lab. I had had a stroke and they needed to see, if there was a blood clot that needed to be dissolved.
On November 10, 1982 I checked in for tests. On the 11th I had CT scans which showed “total occlusion of the right jugular vein at the C4 level.” Dr. Letcher’s Discharge report says this was a recurrent right glomus jugulare tumor found in 1978.
After first arriving in my semi-private room I had to take all kinds of tests. Just before the operation I had a procedure called arteriography. I lay on a table with a fluoroscope over my stomach. The doctor makes an incision on the inside of my right thigh and threads a catheter in the vesicle up to my heart. There he used the fluoroscope to move up the artery in the right side of my neck.
X-ray pictures were taken before a dye was released through the catheter. The dye was timed released, so the pictures could trace for movement of the dye. The heat and pain was the worst I have ever felt. I have had a couple more arteriograms since.
For me it is more painful than abdominal surgery that is the next worst. Head surgery without the headaches is the least painful of chest or leg surgery.

The Curby Family

Trefflé Corbeil aka Curby aka Kirby
by his great grandson Richard Curby and
Gailene Smith

Trefflé Corbeil (aka Curby aka Kirby) (aka Treffley aka Trefley) was the second born son to FranÇois-Régis Corbeil and his first wife, Marcelline Chartier, on March 28, 1847 in St. Paul de Joilette, Québec, Canada. He came from a long line of farmers, and while not formally educated, they were hard working, honest and thrifty. My father says there is no one tighter than a Frenchman. Treffley’s older brother, Joseph, was born in 1844.
Treffley’s mother died (probably in childbirth) in 1847 and was buried in St. Paul de Joilette. On June 27, 1847, Régis married Leocadie Hervieux and they had seven children. Treffley gained five half brothers and two half sisters.
When Régis was 38, he and Leocadie(35), and seven of their children (one had died and one was born in Beaverville), immigrated to Beaverville, Iroquois county, Illinois, following Régis father, Hypolite, and his brother, Joseph, who had made the move some years earlier. Treffley was 18 at the time.
While the airplane and automobile had not been invented yet, the train had begun to develop, but there was no way to get from St. Paul de Joilette to Beaverville by rail. Besides, it was not a practical way to move an entire household and possessions, not considering the expense for a farm family (French at that). Instead at that time travel was by horse, buggy or covered wagon. One would either ride a wagon or horse or walk 922 miles. At an average speed of three miles an hour, ten hours a day, it took a month. It was a hard trip. There was little shelter from the elements except in crowded wagons (that were full of possessions) or under the wagons. No air conditioning during the day or heat at night, except the campfire.
Leocadie died in 1865, possibly from the hardships of the trip and childbirth, and was buried at St. Mary’s in Beaverville. Her last son, Edgar, lived and was married to Delema Martell.
On April 29, 1865, Régis married Margueritte Desroches who was born in 1833 in Québec, Canada. Margueritte had her first son, Elgare, on September 11, 1865 in Beaverville. By this marriage Treffley gained five new half brothers and three half sisters.
May 22, 1869, at age 22, Treffley married Josephine (Josie) Belanger, who had been born in Montreal, Québec, Canada on May 9, 1842. According to this date she was five years older than he. But every census reports she was a year younger. Perhaps, she didn’t want anybody to know she was older. Since both families spoke French, it was natural that they would find each other in a small town of Beaverville. To her dying day, Josie did not speak one word of English, although she understood it. All of the children spoke and understood French and English. They were educated in a small school in Kansas. I can see the census takers asking Josie a question, her answering in French, then one of the children repeating what she said in English.
Treffley and Josie’s first child, Diana, was born December 11, 1870, in Beaverville. Their first son, William born two years later, was six weeks old when the family moved to Kansas.
Other families including some Curbys moved to Kansas from Beaverville, but many went back to Beaverville. Drought in Kansas, a multitude of grasshoppers at times, and hail storms before one could harvest meant there were many crop failures.
Treffley Kirby was given a land grant of 80 acres East of Moundridge, Kansas on December 15, 1879, by President Rutherford B. Hays. It was registered in the McPherson County courthouse two years later. Moundridge is 43 miles Northwest of Wichita.
Delia was born February 4, 1875 and later married Fred Muegge. Ida Alice was born two years after her. There is a record of Ida in the same school with John Lagree when she was seven and he nine listed one after the other. Later they were married on February 3, 1896 when she was 18.
The next born to the family was Samuel, my grandpa Sam for whom I was named. Family records say it was January 11, 1883. This conflicts with the next child born, Emmaline, who was born May 16, 1883. She died April 8, 1884. This is on her tombstone that would have been created close to her death. I believe these dates are right. There are many reasons to question Sam’s birth date as 1883.
The largest explosion to ever happen on Earth in recorded history happened in 1883 when the volcanic island, Krakatau, erupted. It is located in the Sunda strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. Only one third of an island over 1400 ft. in height and supporting the lives of 40 people remained afterwards. If the eruption had been in San Francisco it would have been heard in Moundridge. 1/13th of the Earth heard it. It would have sounded like far off thunder and lasted about two hours. The sound was larger than both atomic bombs. The sky was filled with ash to a 50 km into the stratosphere. Unusual vivid red sunsets continued for three years. Worldwide temperatures decreased 1.2 degrees C and did not return to normal until 1888. At least 36,417 people died from waves over 40m high destroying 165 coastal villages. Interestingly, many in my records died that year or the next as did Diane and Emmaline. It is my guess the ash in the air made breathing difficult for weaker people.
It is easy to see why the family focused on 1883 as Sam’s birthday. It may have been hard to think of anything else.
Further, the census records of Sam’s birth are not consistent. Since Josie did not speak English errors might have happened. In 1885, it is reported Sam was 4, which would have made his birth in 1881. I’m sure Josie knew the difference between a child of two and born in 1883 and one that is four. If the census were late in 1885, Josie could have thought that Sam was almost four. That would mean he was actually three and born in 1882.
The other possibility is adoption. Sam looks too much like the Curby family, so Emmaline is the adoption candidate. There is nothing I have found yet in records or family history about this. It will always be a mystery.
Mosie was born September 20, 1885 and died two years later. Dora was born on Dec 4, 1889, married Walter E Coyer on October 3, 1906 and died in 1907, Zelma Ellen was born on November 4, 1891, married James Edward Orndoff October 7, 1909. Our family vacationed several times in Salida, Colorado when they were living there. She died in about 1975. Eliza was the last born to Treffley and Josie on August 16, 1897. When Josie was 55. It may have been because of Josie’s advanced age that Eliza was mentally retarded and always lived with someone. She died on February 28, 1944, when she was living with Zelma in Conway Springs, KS. Zelma later moved to Salida, Colorado.
Treffley retired from farming in 1907 and moved to Moundridge where they had 6 city lots (half a city block). There were streets on the front, back and one side. He had bought 5 lots for $100 or $1,600 in today’s dollars, then in 1908 he bought one more for $50 or $800 in today’s dollars. Beyond the side was the railroad tracks, the primary means of transportation in those days. It would have been convenient and not noisy. The few cars did not drive fast or challenge the trains at the crossing. The whistle was blown only on entering the town to tell people to come meet friends and family they were expecting. Leaving the town to say goodbye. The train never rumbled through town. It always stopped. It seldom ran at night.
In town, Treffley took up gardening and may have grown grapes. He could not give up growing things and provide the family with vegetables. With him were Josie, Zelma and Eliza. Two years later, Zelma was married and moved.
William (Willie) had married Emma Murray and was raising a family of two boys. They were in the second land rush in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1893. William and Emma later had five more children.
Sam had married Elda Pearl Coyer on December 25, 1905. Their first son, Irvan Earl, was born July 14, 1906. His nickname was Boodo. That was as close to saying brother as the other children could get. Clifford Ray (Skin} was born three years later, then Russel Glen (Turk) two years after him.
Farming was a labor-intensive business. Before mechanization a man would hold the reins and walk behind a horse pulling a plow or spring tooth, or sow the wheat by broadcasting. The need for labor was great. Irvan was taught to farm at a young age. He needed specific directions on what he was to do, because it was the before the age of reasoning for him. Therefore, when it was delegated to him to direct his brothers he was very specific on what was to be done and many times hard to please.
Irvan farmed the home place. Other farms Treffley had rented. Before Russel was two, Sam and his family moved to Oklahoma to a farm near William outside of Billings in Noble County. The trip again was by two horse and buggies for 130 miles straight south. They took a milk cow and their dog, but when they reached the Salt Fork River, they had to ford it. There were very few bridges out West at that time. The dog would not swim the moving waters of the river and went back home. He found his way some 50 miles alone and they said when he got home his paws were all bloodied. It would have taken the family about four days to make it to Billings. Their last child Donald Ray was born there on May 6, 1915.
Treffley died June 21, 1913 of stomach cancer at the age of 66. With the stress of making a living in Kansas with so many failing around him, one can understand how ulcers might happen. His will, written May 7, 1908, was probated June 28, 1913.
I am very proud of my great-grandfather. He gave many loans to his friends at low interest. He was a good landowner and made money while helping others by renting his land. All his money came from growing wheat without today’s mechanization. His original farm did not have an oil or gas lease until 1928.

Net Worth from Will Probate
September 23. 1913

Actual T. D.
Cash in Bank less expenses $2,234.58 $48,764
Loans T. D. Interest T. D.
Neighbors Apr. 3, 1911 500 11,135 $12.50 $278
Neighbors Apr. 12, 1912 50 1,114 1.70 38
Neighbors Sept. 28,1911 500 11,135 32.13 716
Neighbors May 31,1913 400 8,908 7.20 160
Sam Curby July 20,1912 300 6,681 1.50 33
William Curby August 1, 1912 300 6,681 1.50 33
Neighbor Dec. 28, 1912 100 2,227 4.66 104
Total 47,881 1,362
280 acres of land 8400 134,400
Rent from land 1913-1914 1,341.52 29,875
House, furniture, carriage, 6 lots

Grand total in today’s dollars (T. D.) $260,920 plus two story home in Moundridge on half a city block and streets on three sides near the railroad


Sam and his family visited Josie once or twice a year until she moved to Lamont, Oklahoma. In 1915 there was a trip was by train from Bliss later changed to Marlin which was .. miles away from Sam’s home place. Elda was going back to Moundridge to visit her sister, Ida. Sam was going to stay with the boys. Elda, Sam and Donald (then a baby) were on the train and Sam was saying goodbye, but before he got off the train, it started moving. It was moving so fast he could not jumped off. After much discussion Sam was able to get the train to stop so he could get off. It was a long walk back to Bliss. The boys were suddenly all alone. They could not find their father anywhere. Finally, Boodo and Turk kept looking down the tracks in the direction the train had gone. Skin found it a time to play and explore. After a long while they saw their father walking to them on the tracks. When he got to the station, they could not find Skin anywhere. Finally, they found him in a baggage storage room. He had locked himself in.
Wichita is due North from Oklahoma City. There has always been a lot of traffic between the two. When the family bought a car the boys would stack up rocks in the back floor board. The highlight of the trip to visit Grandma Josie was throwing rocks into the Salt Fork River while they drove over the bridge that had been built. The second highlight of visiting Grandma Josie was eating concord grapes she had bought. They may have been brought in by train from Arkansas. There was a huge wicker basket full of the grapes. They would put them in their mouths whole, then spit out the seeds and skin. They stuffed themselves on grapes.


French Baptist Cemetery

The French Baptist Cemetery is located three miles from the off ramp of interstate highway 135 East of Moundridge. The Corbeils as far back as we have records were Catholic. A Catholic priest from Beaverville had troubles with the Church there, moved to Kansas, and started the Freedom Baptist Church, which Treffley joined.

From the notes of Rebecca Sue Hatton in “Walkin’ the Cemetery on Oct 9 and 10, 2000” the following are buried in the Curby Family plot:

Dora died Oct 3, 1907.
Diana Kirby died May 25, 1883 aged 12 ys 5 ms 14 ds (older stone – in back row – third stone on the right)
Eliza Curby died Feb 28, 1944.
Emeline died Apr 8, 1884 (older stone – in back row – the second stone on the right)
Josephine died May 14, 1924(Mother – older stone o the right of this very large stone)
Moise died Feb 18,1887 (Mosie older stone – in back row – the first stone on the right)
Triffley Curby died June 21, 1913 (Father – older stone to the left of this very large stone)
Unmarked stone in the back – the last stone on the right.
I don’t know to whom this last stone may belong. William and Delia are buried in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. Ida died in Lamar, Colorado and was probably buried there. Sam is buried in Billings, Oklahoma. Zelma is buried in Salida, Colorado. No one of the original family is unaccounted for.